diff --git a/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_add_gateway.rs b/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_add_gateway.rs
index 5662a25a3d..dc4280ba29 100644
--- a/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_add_gateway.rs
+++ b/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_add_gateway.rs
@@ -114,13 +114,12 @@ where
         })?;
         hardcoded_topology.entry_capable_nodes().cloned().collect()
     } else {
-        let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
         crate::init::helpers::gateways_for_init(
-            &mut rng,
             &core.client.nym_api_urls,
             user_agent,
             core.debug.topology.minimum_gateway_performance,
             core.debug.topology.ignore_ingress_epoch_role,
+            None,
         )
         .await?
     };
diff --git a/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_init.rs b/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_init.rs
index a59d73e261..feda3ab8d1 100644
--- a/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_init.rs
+++ b/common/client-core/src/cli_helpers/client_init.rs
@@ -173,13 +173,12 @@ where
         })?;
         hardcoded_topology.entry_capable_nodes().cloned().collect()
     } else {
-        let mut rng = rand::thread_rng();
         crate::init::helpers::gateways_for_init(
-            &mut rng,
             &core.client.nym_api_urls,
             user_agent,
             core.debug.topology.minimum_gateway_performance,
             core.debug.topology.ignore_ingress_epoch_role,
+            None,
         )
         .await?
     };
diff --git a/common/client-core/src/init/helpers.rs b/common/client-core/src/init/helpers.rs
index f4e34f5ffd..e574466701 100644
--- a/common/client-core/src/init/helpers.rs
+++ b/common/client-core/src/init/helpers.rs
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ type WsConn = JSWebsocket;
 
 const CONCURRENT_GATEWAYS_MEASURED: usize = 20;
 const MEASUREMENTS: usize = 3;
+const DEFAULT_NYM_API_RETRIES: usize = 3;
 
 #[cfg(not(target_arch = "wasm32"))]
 const CONN_TIMEOUT: Duration = Duration::from_millis(1500);
@@ -132,25 +133,27 @@ impl<'a, G: ConnectableGateway> GatewayWithLatency<'a, G> {
     }
 }
 
-pub async fn gateways_for_init<R: Rng>(
-    rng: &mut R,
+pub async fn gateways_for_init(
     nym_apis: &[Url],
     user_agent: Option<UserAgent>,
     minimum_performance: u8,
     ignore_epoch_roles: bool,
+    retry_count: Option<usize>,
 ) -> Result<Vec<RoutingNode>, ClientCoreError> {
-    let nym_api = nym_apis
-        .choose(rng)
-        .ok_or(ClientCoreError::ListOfNymApisIsEmpty)?;
+    // Build client with ALL URLs for fallback support
+    let nym_api_urls: Vec<nym_http_api_client::Url> = nym_apis
+        .iter()
+        .map(|url| nym_http_api_client::Url::from(url.clone()))
+        .collect();
 
-    // Use the unified HTTP client directly with optional user agent
-    let mut builder = nym_http_api_client::Client::builder(nym_api.clone())
-        .map_err(|e| {
-            ClientCoreError::ValidatorClientError(nym_validator_client::ValidatorClientError::from(
-                e,
-            ))
-        })?
-        .with_bincode(); // Use bincode for better performance
+    if nym_api_urls.is_empty() {
+        return Err(ClientCoreError::ListOfNymApisIsEmpty);
+    }
+
+    let retry_count = retry_count.unwrap_or(DEFAULT_NYM_API_RETRIES);
+    let mut builder = nym_http_api_client::ClientBuilder::new_with_urls(nym_api_urls.clone())
+        .with_retries(retry_count)
+        .with_bincode();
 
     if let Some(user_agent) = user_agent {
         builder = builder.with_user_agent(user_agent);
@@ -160,7 +163,7 @@ pub async fn gateways_for_init<R: Rng>(
         ClientCoreError::ValidatorClientError(nym_validator_client::ValidatorClientError::from(e))
     })?;
 
-    tracing::debug!("Fetching list of gateways from: {nym_api}");
+    tracing::debug!("Fetching list of gateways from: {:?}", nym_api_urls);
 
     // Use our helper to handle pagination
     let gateways = get_all_basic_entry_nodes_with_metadata(&client, true)
@@ -172,17 +175,15 @@ pub async fn gateways_for_init<R: Rng>(
 
     // filter out gateways below minimum performance and ones that could operate as a mixnode
     // (we don't want instability)
-    let valid_gateways = gateways
+    let valid_gateways: Vec<RoutingNode> = gateways
         .iter()
         .filter(|g| ignore_epoch_roles || !g.supported_roles.mixnode)
         .filter(|g| g.performance.round_to_integer() >= minimum_performance)
         .filter_map(|gateway| gateway.try_into().ok())
-        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
-    tracing::debug!("After checking validity: {}", valid_gateways.len());
-    tracing::trace!("Valid gateways: {valid_gateways:#?}");
+        .collect();
 
     tracing::info!(
-        "and {} after validity and performance filtering",
+        "Found {} valid gateways after filtering",
         valid_gateways.len()
     );
 
@@ -345,13 +346,20 @@ pub(super) fn get_specified_gateway(
     must_use_tls: bool,
 ) -> Result<RoutingNode, ClientCoreError> {
     tracing::debug!("Requesting specified gateway: {gateway_identity}");
+
     let user_gateway = ed25519::PublicKey::from_base58_string(gateway_identity)
         .map_err(ClientCoreError::UnableToCreatePublicKeyFromGatewayId)?;
 
     let gateway = gateways
         .iter()
         .find(|gateway| gateway.identity_key == user_gateway)
-        .ok_or_else(|| ClientCoreError::NoGatewayWithId(gateway_identity.to_string()))?;
+        .ok_or_else(|| {
+            tracing::debug!(
+                "Gateway {gateway_identity} not found in {} available gateways",
+                gateways.len()
+            );
+            ClientCoreError::NoGatewayWithId(gateway_identity.to_string())
+        })?;
 
     let Some(entry_details) = gateway.entry.as_ref() else {
         return Err(ClientCoreError::UnsupportedEntry {
@@ -414,3 +422,52 @@ pub(super) async fn register_with_gateway(
         authenticated_ephemeral_client: gateway_client,
     })
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use url::Url;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_single_url_builds_without_retries() {
+        let urls = [Url::parse("https://api.nym.com").unwrap()];
+
+        let nym_api_urls: Vec<nym_http_api_client::Url> = urls
+            .iter()
+            .map(|url| nym_http_api_client::Url::from(url.clone()))
+            .collect();
+
+        assert_eq!(nym_api_urls.len(), 1, "Should have exactly one URL");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_multiple_urls_prepared_for_retries() {
+        let urls = vec![
+            Url::parse("https://api1.nym.com").unwrap(),
+            Url::parse("https://api2.nym.com").unwrap(),
+            Url::parse("https://api3.nym.com").unwrap(),
+        ];
+
+        let nym_api_urls: Vec<nym_http_api_client::Url> = urls
+            .iter()
+            .map(|url| nym_http_api_client::Url::from(url.clone()))
+            .collect();
+
+        assert_eq!(nym_api_urls.len(), 3, "Should have all three URLs");
+        assert!(
+            nym_api_urls.len() > 1,
+            "Multiple URLs trigger retry behavior"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_empty_url_list_is_detected() {
+        let urls: Vec<Url> = vec![];
+
+        let nym_api_urls: Vec<nym_http_api_client::Url> = urls
+            .iter()
+            .map(|url| nym_http_api_client::Url::from(url.clone()))
+            .collect();
+
+        assert!(nym_api_urls.is_empty(), "Empty list should remain empty");
+    }
+}
diff --git a/common/wasm/client-core/src/helpers.rs b/common/wasm/client-core/src/helpers.rs
index 23aaee4cad..de5cd6883a 100644
--- a/common/wasm/client-core/src/helpers.rs
+++ b/common/wasm/client-core/src/helpers.rs
@@ -160,13 +160,12 @@ pub async fn setup_gateway_from_api(
     minimum_performance: u8,
     ignore_epoch_roles: bool,
 ) -> Result<InitialisationResult, WasmCoreError> {
-    let mut rng = thread_rng();
     let gateways = gateways_for_init(
-        &mut rng,
         nym_apis,
         None,
         minimum_performance,
         ignore_epoch_roles,
+        None,
     )
     .await?;
     setup_gateway_wasm(client_store, force_tls, chosen_gateway, gateways).await
@@ -178,13 +177,12 @@ pub async fn current_gateways_wasm(
     minimum_performance: u8,
     ignore_epoch_roles: bool,
 ) -> Result<Vec<RoutingNode>, ClientCoreError> {
-    let mut rng = thread_rng();
     gateways_for_init(
-        &mut rng,
         nym_apis,
         user_agent,
         minimum_performance,
         ignore_epoch_roles,
+        None,
     )
     .await
 }
diff --git a/nym-registration-client/src/builder/config.rs b/nym-registration-client/src/builder/config.rs
index 349534d555..d1a342faa9 100644
--- a/nym-registration-client/src/builder/config.rs
+++ b/nym-registration-client/src/builder/config.rs
@@ -56,6 +56,53 @@ pub struct MixnetClientConfig {
 }
 
 impl BuilderConfig {
+    /// Creates a new BuilderConfig with all required parameters.
+    ///
+    /// However, consider using `BuilderConfig::builder()` instead.
+    #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
+    pub fn new(
+        entry_node: NymNodeWithKeys,
+        exit_node: NymNodeWithKeys,
+        data_path: Option<PathBuf>,
+        mixnet_client_config: MixnetClientConfig,
+        two_hops: bool,
+        user_agent: UserAgent,
+        custom_topology_provider: Box<dyn TopologyProvider + Send + Sync>,
+        network_env: NymNetworkDetails,
+        cancel_token: CancellationToken,
+        #[cfg(unix)] connection_fd_callback: Arc<dyn Fn(RawFd) + Send + Sync>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            entry_node,
+            exit_node,
+            data_path,
+            mixnet_client_config,
+            two_hops,
+            user_agent,
+            custom_topology_provider,
+            network_env,
+            cancel_token,
+            #[cfg(unix)]
+            connection_fd_callback,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a builder for BuilderConfig
+    ///
+    /// This is the preferred way to construct a BuilderConfig.
+    ///
+    /// # Example
+    /// ```ignore
+    /// let config = BuilderConfig::builder()
+    ///     .entry_node(entry)
+    ///     .exit_node(exit)
+    ///     .user_agent(agent)
+    ///     .build()?;
+    /// ```
+    pub fn builder() -> BuilderConfigBuilder {
+        BuilderConfigBuilder::default()
+    }
+
     pub fn mixnet_client_debug_config(&self) -> DebugConfig {
         if self.two_hops {
             two_hop_debug_config(&self.mixnet_client_config)
@@ -116,6 +163,7 @@ impl BuilderConfig {
             .credentials_mode(true)
             .with_remember_me(remember_me)
             .custom_topology_provider(self.custom_topology_provider);
+
         #[cfg(unix)]
         let builder = builder.with_connection_fd_callback(self.connection_fd_callback);
 
@@ -205,3 +253,205 @@ fn log_mixnet_client_config(debug_config: &DebugConfig) {
 fn true_to_disabled(val: bool) -> &'static str {
     if val { "disabled" } else { "enabled" }
 }
+
+/// Error type for BuilderConfig validation
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, thiserror::Error)]
+#[allow(clippy::enum_variant_names)]
+pub enum BuilderConfigError {
+    #[error("entry_node is required")]
+    MissingEntryNode,
+    #[error("exit_node is required")]
+    MissingExitNode,
+    #[error("mixnet_client_config is required")]
+    MissingMixnetClientConfig,
+    #[error("user_agent is required")]
+    MissingUserAgent,
+    #[error("custom_topology_provider is required")]
+    MissingTopologyProvider,
+    #[error("network_env is required")]
+    MissingNetworkEnv,
+    #[error("cancel_token is required")]
+    MissingCancelToken,
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    #[error("connection_fd_callback is required")]
+    MissingConnectionFdCallback,
+}
+
+/// Builder for `BuilderConfig`
+///
+/// This provides a more convenient way to construct a `BuilderConfig` compared to the
+/// `new()` constructor with many arguments.
+#[derive(Default)]
+pub struct BuilderConfigBuilder {
+    entry_node: Option<NymNodeWithKeys>,
+    exit_node: Option<NymNodeWithKeys>,
+    data_path: Option<PathBuf>,
+    mixnet_client_config: Option<MixnetClientConfig>,
+    two_hops: bool,
+    user_agent: Option<UserAgent>,
+    custom_topology_provider: Option<Box<dyn TopologyProvider + Send + Sync>>,
+    network_env: Option<NymNetworkDetails>,
+    cancel_token: Option<CancellationToken>,
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    connection_fd_callback: Option<Arc<dyn Fn(RawFd) + Send + Sync>>,
+}
+
+impl BuilderConfigBuilder {
+    pub fn new() -> Self {
+        Self::default()
+    }
+
+    pub fn entry_node(mut self, entry_node: NymNodeWithKeys) -> Self {
+        self.entry_node = Some(entry_node);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn exit_node(mut self, exit_node: NymNodeWithKeys) -> Self {
+        self.exit_node = Some(exit_node);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn data_path(mut self, data_path: Option<PathBuf>) -> Self {
+        self.data_path = data_path;
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn mixnet_client_config(mut self, mixnet_client_config: MixnetClientConfig) -> Self {
+        self.mixnet_client_config = Some(mixnet_client_config);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn two_hops(mut self, two_hops: bool) -> Self {
+        self.two_hops = two_hops;
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn user_agent(mut self, user_agent: UserAgent) -> Self {
+        self.user_agent = Some(user_agent);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn custom_topology_provider(
+        mut self,
+        custom_topology_provider: Box<dyn TopologyProvider + Send + Sync>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        self.custom_topology_provider = Some(custom_topology_provider);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn network_env(mut self, network_env: NymNetworkDetails) -> Self {
+        self.network_env = Some(network_env);
+        self
+    }
+
+    pub fn cancel_token(mut self, cancel_token: CancellationToken) -> Self {
+        self.cancel_token = Some(cancel_token);
+        self
+    }
+
+    #[cfg(unix)]
+    pub fn connection_fd_callback(
+        mut self,
+        connection_fd_callback: Arc<dyn Fn(RawFd) + Send + Sync>,
+    ) -> Self {
+        self.connection_fd_callback = Some(connection_fd_callback);
+        self
+    }
+
+    /// Builds the `BuilderConfig`.
+    ///
+    /// Returns an error if any required field is missing.
+    pub fn build(self) -> Result<BuilderConfig, BuilderConfigError> {
+        Ok(BuilderConfig {
+            entry_node: self
+                .entry_node
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingEntryNode)?,
+            exit_node: self.exit_node.ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingExitNode)?,
+            data_path: self.data_path,
+            mixnet_client_config: self
+                .mixnet_client_config
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingMixnetClientConfig)?,
+            two_hops: self.two_hops,
+            user_agent: self
+                .user_agent
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingUserAgent)?,
+            custom_topology_provider: self
+                .custom_topology_provider
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingTopologyProvider)?,
+            network_env: self
+                .network_env
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingNetworkEnv)?,
+            cancel_token: self
+                .cancel_token
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingCancelToken)?,
+            #[cfg(unix)]
+            connection_fd_callback: self
+                .connection_fd_callback
+                .ok_or(BuilderConfigError::MissingConnectionFdCallback)?,
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_mixnet_client_config_default_values() {
+        let config = MixnetClientConfig::default();
+        assert!(!config.disable_poisson_rate);
+        assert!(!config.disable_background_cover_traffic);
+        assert_eq!(config.min_mixnode_performance, None);
+        assert_eq!(config.min_gateway_performance, None);
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_builder_config_builder_fails_without_required_fields() {
+        // Building without any fields should fail with specific error
+        let result = BuilderConfig::builder().build();
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+        match result {
+            Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingEntryNode) => (), // Expected
+            Err(e) => panic!("Expected MissingEntryNode, got: {}", e),
+            Ok(_) => panic!("Expected error, got Ok"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_builder_config_builder_validates_all_required_fields() {
+        // Test that each required field is validated
+        let result = BuilderConfig::builder().build();
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+
+        // Short-circuits at first missing field, so we just verify it's one of the expected errors
+        #[allow(unreachable_patterns)] // All variants are covered, but keeping catch-all for safety
+        match result {
+            Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingEntryNode)
+            | Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingExitNode)
+            | Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingMixnetClientConfig)
+            | Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingUserAgent)
+            | Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingTopologyProvider)
+            | Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingNetworkEnv)
+            | Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingCancelToken) => (),
+            #[cfg(unix)]
+            Err(BuilderConfigError::MissingConnectionFdCallback) => (),
+            Err(e) => panic!("Unexpected error: {}", e),
+            Ok(_) => panic!("Expected validation error, got Ok"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_builder_config_builder_method_chaining() {
+        // Test that builder methods chain properly and return Self
+        let builder = BuilderConfig::builder();
+
+        // Verify the builder returns itself for chaining
+        let builder = builder.two_hops(true);
+        let builder = builder.two_hops(false);
+        let builder = builder.data_path(None);
+
+        // Builder should still fail because required fields are missing
+        let result = builder.build();
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/sdk/rust/nym-sdk/src/mixnet/client.rs b/sdk/rust/nym-sdk/src/mixnet/client.rs
index d24a918989..258d2f3c37 100644
--- a/sdk/rust/nym-sdk/src/mixnet/client.rs
+++ b/sdk/rust/nym-sdk/src/mixnet/client.rs
@@ -555,21 +555,22 @@ where
     async fn available_gateways(&mut self) -> Result<Vec<RoutingNode>, ClientCoreError> {
         if let Some(ref mut custom_provider) = self.custom_topology_provider {
             if let Some(topology) = custom_provider.get_new_topology().await {
-                return Ok(topology.entry_gateways().cloned().collect());
+                // Use entry_capable_nodes() instead of entry_gateways() to include
+                // all entry-capable nodes, not just actively assigned ones
+                return Ok(topology.entry_capable_nodes().cloned().collect());
             }
         }
 
         let nym_api_endpoints = self.get_api_endpoints();
         let topology_cfg = &self.config.debug_config.topology;
         let user_agent = self.user_agent.clone();
-        let mut rng = OsRng;
 
         gateways_for_init(
-            &mut rng,
             &nym_api_endpoints,
             user_agent,
             topology_cfg.minimum_gateway_performance,
             topology_cfg.ignore_ingress_epoch_role,
+            None,
         )
         .await
     }
@@ -880,3 +881,17 @@ impl IncludedSurbs {
         Self::ExposeSelfAddress
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_mixnet_builder_default_no_custom_client() {
+        let builder = MixnetClientBuilder::new_ephemeral();
+        assert!(
+            builder.build().is_ok(),
+            "Builder should succeed without custom client"
+        );
+    }
+}